Portable form for monolithic concrete roof



May 23, 1967 A. H. WILKINS 3,320,646

PORTABLE FORM FOR MONOLITHIC CONCRETE ROOF Filed July 5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY M $199M Attorneys y 3, 1967 A. H. WlLKlNS 3,320,646

PORTABLE FORM FOR MONOLITHIC CONCRETE ROOF Filed July 5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 23, 1967 A. H. wamms 3,320,646

PORTABLE FORM FOR MONOLITHIC CONCRETE ROOF Filed July 5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. flrwaldfi- Mil/W519,

BY MMJM Attorneys.

May 23, 1967 A. H. WILKINS 3,320,646

PORTABLE FORM FOR MONOLI'I'HIC CONCRETE ROOF Filed July 5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. v 14/ 22010 l7! MIA Ins,

WM M 3,320,646 PGRTABLE FQRM EUR MDNULITHEC CGNCRETE RUQ'IF Arnold H. Wilkins, 2002 Kern Road, Marion, Ind. 4.6952 Filed Italy 5, E66. er. No. 562,549 7 Claims. (Cl. 25-1316) This invention relates generally to forms for concrete structures, and more particularly to a transportable form for use in casting a monolithic concrete roof structure.

In my copending application Ser. No. 280,289, filed May 14, 1963, there is disclosed a free standing building unit having a continuous, monolithic, self-supporting, extended area roof member formed of concrete, the roof member being generally square and being outwardly arched about a straight axis extending between a first two diagonally opposite corners, the other two diagonally opposite corners being respectively supported by two spaced-apart pillar members. As further disclosed in my copending application, larger building structures may be provided by merely adding additional roof sections, each additional roof section requiring only one additional pillar member since adjacent roof sections may have adjacent corners supported by a common pillar.

In the erection of such building units, it is desirable to provide a transportable form for casting the roof sections so that the form may be readily moved from one section to the next during the construction of a single multisection building, or may be readily transported to another site for the erection of another building.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved form for casting a monolithic concrete roof structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved portable form for casting a monolithic concrete roof structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable form for casting a monolithic concrete roof structure wherein the roof structure is generally square and outwardly arched about a diagonal extending between two op osite corners thereof.

The invention, in its broader aspects, provides a center form section with means for supporting the center section at a predetermined height above the ground. A pair of side form sections are provided respectively pivotally connected to the center section and movable from a first position extending downwardly from the center section to a second position extending outwardly from the center section and forming a complete extended area form therewith, and means are provided on the supporting means for respectively retaining the side sections in their second positions.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the building unit of my copending application;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the building unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the building unit of FIG. 1 taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is another side view of the building unit of FIG. 1 taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the form of the present invention useful for casting the roof section of the building unit of FIGS. 1 through 4 and shown in its operative position;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the form of the invention shown in its traveling position;

rate tet FIG. 7 is an end view, partly in cross-section, taken generally along the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side view, partly in cross-section, taken generally along the line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 99 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 10 is a top cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 10-10 of FIG. 8.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, the improved building unit described in my aforesaid copending application generally indicated at 12 in FIG. 1, comprises a monolithic cast concrete roof section 14 supported by a pair of upstanding pillar members 16, 18. The roof section 14 is square in plan view, as best seen in FIG. 2, and is outwardly arched along an axis indicated by the dashed line 20 extending between diagonally opposite corners 22, 24, the other two diagonally opposite corners 26, 28 being respectively supported by the pillar members 16, 18. It will be observed that the corners 26, 28 of the monolithic roof section 14 curve downwardly into catch basins 30, 32 respectively formed at the upper ends of the pillar members 16, 18.

In the erection of the building unit 12, conventional forms are first erected for the pillar members 16, 18 which are then conventionally cast of concrete with the necessary reinforcement, in situ. In the process of thus casting the pillar members 16, 13, portions 34, 36 which extend downwardly into the catch basins 30, 32 are also formed with the result that the corners 26, 28 of the monolithic cast concrete roof section 14 are truncated, as shown by the dashed lines 38, 40 in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 10 of the drawings, the improved transportable form for casting the monolithic concrete roof section 14 is shown, generally indicated at 42. Form 42 generally comprises a center form section 44, a pair of side form sections or wings 46, 43 pivotally connected to the center form section 44, and a supporting frame 54) which, in the illustrated embodiment, is provided with suitable ground wheels 52 at one end and a conventional fifth wheel means 54 at the other end to permit towing the form with a conventional tractor-type vehicle. As will hereinafter be more fully described, the side form sections 46, 48 are selectively movable between a first or traveling position, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, in which they extend downwardly from the center section 44, and a second upper position, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, in which they extend outwardly from the center section 44 and form therewith a complete extended area form. For the purpose of reducing the overall height of the form 42 for traveling, the outer edges 54, 56 of the side form sections 46, 48 are truncated, as best seen in FIG. 5, and extension members 53, 66 are removably connected thereto after the side form sections 46, 48 have been raised, the extensions 58, 60 likewise having outer edges 62, 64- which truncate the generally triangular side form sections 46, 48 so as to mate with the edges 38 of the portions 34, 36 of the pillar members 16, 18. Extensions 58, 60 are flexible and, when the form is in use, rest upon portions 34, 36 of the pillar members, thus accommodating some tolerance in the height of the two pillar members 16, 18. The provision of the extensions 53, 60, which are removed when the form is in the traveling position, also permits the form to be lowered to a lower height for traveling. It will thus be seen that when the side sections or wings 46, 48 of the form 42 are raised, the complete form conforms to the roof section 14 of the building unit 12.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 7 through 10, inclusive, frame 50 comprises a base frame 66, an upstanding lower frame 68 on the base frame 66, and an upstanding upper, vertically movable frame 70 on the lower frame 68. Base frame 66 has forward and rear ea ends 72, 74, the lower frame 68 being disposed generally intermediate the two ends with the ground wheels 52 being disposed between the lower frame 68 and rear end 74 and the fifth wheel assembly 54 adjacent the front end 72.

The lower frame 68 has upstanding corner post members 76, 78 at its rear end and 80, 82 at its forward end, the corner post members 76, 78, 80, 82 defining a rectangle, as generally seen in FIG. 10. The corner post members 76, 78, 80, 82 are interconnected by suitable structural members, as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. The upper frame 70 likewise includes upstanding corner post members 84, 86 adjacent its rear end and 88, 90 adjacent its front end, corner post members 84, 86, 88, 90 respectively engaging the lower frame corner post members 76, 78, 88, 82 as seen in FIG. and being within the rectangle defined thereby. The upper frame corner post members 84, 86, 88, 90 are likewise interconnected by suitable structural members as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The center form section 44 comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced-apart I- beams 92 and an outer sheath or skin 94. I-beams 92 are supported by and rest upon a pair of longitudinally, spaced-apart transversely extending beam assemblies 96, 98, beam assembly 96 comprising a pair of channel members 100, 102 and beam assembly 98 comprising a similar pair of channel members 104, 106. The transverse channel members 100, 102 are respectively interconnected by transversely spaced members 108, 110 while the transverse channel members 104, 106 are likewise interconnected by a pair of transversely spaced members 112. The upper ends 114 of the upper frame corner post members 84, 86, 88, 90 are respectively secured to the members 108, 110, 112 which extend between the transverse channel members 180, 102, and 104, 106 so that the center roof section 44 is thus supported on the upper frame 78.

Upper frame 70 and thus center form section 44 and the side form sections 46, 48 are selectively vertically raised and lowered by means of suitable hydraulic rams 114, 118, 120, 122, respectively having their lower ends mounted on transverse members 124, 126 of the base frame 66 and having the upper ends of their piston rods acting upon transverse members 128, 130 respectively extending between the upper ends of the upper frame corner post members 84, 86, 88, 90. Hydraulic rams 114, 118, 120, 122 are not employed for supporting the weight of concrete on the form 42, but merely for selectively raising and lowering the form to the desired height above the ground 132. Once the upper frame 70 and form 42 have been vertically moved to the desired height by means of the rams 114, 118, 120, 122, upper frame corner post members 84, 86, 88, 90 are respectively bolted to the corresponding lower corner post members 76, 78, 80, 82, as at 134, 136, thus rigidly securing the upper frame 70 to the lower frame 68.

Each of the side form sections or wings 46, 48 comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced-apart I-beams 138 and an outer sheath or skin 140. The outer skins 94 and 140 may be formed-of any suitable relatively thin sheet material, such as plywood, fiberglass, or metal. The I-beams 138 of the side form sections 46, 48 respectively rest upon and are supported by pivoted members 140, 142, 144, 146. The inner ends of the members 140, 142, 144, 146 are respectively pivotally connected to the outer ends of the transverse members 100, 106, of the center form section 44, as at 148. The outer ends of the members 140, 142, 144, 146 are generally coextensive with the outer edges 54, 56 of the respective side form sections 46, .48. It will thus be seen that by virtue of the pivotal connections of the members 140, 142, 144, 146 to the members 100, 106, the side form sections or wings 46, 48 are pivotally connected to the center form section 44 and thus may be pivotally moved from their lower or traveling positions L as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 to their upper or extended positions as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7.

In order selectively to raise and lower the side form sections 46, 48, a pair of hydraulic rams 150, 152 are provided at the rear end of lower frame 63 and a similar pair of hydraulic rams 154, 156 are provided at the forward end. Rams 158, 152 have their lower ends engaging transverse member 158 extending between a pair of plate members 160, 162 secured to and extending rearwardly from the rear corner posts 76, 7 8 of the lower frame 68. Rams 154, 156have their lower ends engaging transverse member 164 which extends between plate members 166, 168 likewise extending forwardly from and secured to forward corner post members 80, 82. The ends of the piston rods of hydraulic rams 152, 156 respectively act on frame elements 170 securedto the members 140, 144 of the form section 46, and the ends of the piston rods of rams 158, 154 respectively act on frame elements 172 secured to the members 142, 146 of the side form section 48. Particular reference to FIGS. 7 and 9 will reveal that actuation of the hydraulic rams 150, 152, 154, 156 will selectively raise and lower the form side sections 46, 48 from their lower or traveling positions as shown in FIG. 9 to their extended positions as shown in FIG. 7.

The hydraulic rams 150, 152, 154, 156 are not used to support the side form sections 46, 48 in their upper positions, but merely to raise and lower the side form sections. In order to support the side form sections 46, 48 in their upper positions thereby to support the weight of the concrete on the completed form 42, a pair of truss assemblies 174, 176 are provided which are respectively bolted to the transverse members 100,106 when the side form sections 46, 48 have been raised to their upper positions. Transversely extending members 178 are in turn bolted to the truss assemblies 174, 176 and have outer ends 180, 182 which are respectively bolted to the frame elements 170, 172 of the side roof sections 46, 48 as best seen in FIG. 7. Thus, for traveling, the truss assemblies 174 and transverse members 178 are unbolted from the frame elements 170, 172 and the transverse members 100, 106 thereby permitting the side form sections 46, 48 to be lowered by the hydraulic rams 150, 152, 154, 156 to the traveling position as shown in FIG. 9. Truss assemblies 174, 176 and transverse members 178 may be carried on the base frame 66 during transport of the form.

In order further to support the weight of the concrete on the completed form 42, particularly toward the outer ends 54, 56 of the side form sections 46, 48, suitable jacks 184, 186 may be provided having their lower ends engaging ground 132 the upper ends respectively supporting the members 140, 142, 144, 146 adjacent their outer ends, as shown in FIG. 7. Extensions 58, 60 may be respectively bolted to the outer edges 54, 56 of the side form sections 46, 48 when in their'upper position, as shown in FIG. 7. The hydraulic pump and controls for the hydraulic rams 114, 118, 120, 122, 150, 154, 156 may conveniently be located on the forward portion 188 of the base frame 66, as shown at in FIG. 8.

In use, the form 42 is transported with the side form sections or Wings 46, 48 lowered as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the trussassemblies 174, 176, transverse members 178 and jacks 184, 186 stowed on the base frame 66, and the upper frame 70 lowered to its lower-most postion and bolted to the lower frame 68, thereby to provide minimum clearance for over-the-road transport. When the installation site is reached, side form sections 46, 48 are raised as above-described and the truss assemblies 174, 176 and transverse members 178 bolted in place, as shown in FIG. 7. The entire form may then be raised to the desired height and theupper frame 70 re'bolted to the lower frame 68 and the jacks 184, 186 then installed.

square, the form 25 is likewise essentially twenty-five feet square, minus the truncated ends 54, 56 of the side form sections 46, 48. The outer surface of the sheath 94, 140 of the form 142 when erected has a radius of approximately twenty-seven feet, a traveling height of approximately thirteen feet, six inches, and a traveling width of approximately eight feet. On the job site, the height of the upper surface of the center form section 44- may be selectively adjusted from approximately eleven feet to approximately fifteen feet.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A form for casting a monolithic concrete roof structure comprising: a center form section; means for sup porting such center section at a predetermined height above the ground and including a lower frame, ground wheels on said lower frame for transporting said form, an upper vertically movable frame on said lower frame and supporting said center form section whereby said center section may be raised and lowered thereby to vary said height, means on said lower frame and acting upon said upper frame for selectively vertically moving the same, and means for securing said upper frame to said lower frame at said predetermined height; a pair of side form sections respectively pivotally connected to said center section and movable from a first position extending downwardly from said center section to a second position extending outwardly from said center section and forming a complete extended area form therewith; and means on said supporting means for respectively retaining said side sections in said second positions thereof and including a truss structure removably secured to said upper frame and side sections.

2. A form for casting a monolithic concrete roof structure comprising: a center form section; means for supporting said center section at a predetermined height above the ground and including an elongated base frame having ground wheels thereon and means for towing whereby said form is transportable, a lower frame on said base frame having forward and rear ends, opposite sides, and including four upstanding corner members disposed in a rectangle, an upper frame having forward and rear ends and being vertically movable within said lower frame, said upper frame including four upstanding corner members respectively adjacent said lower frame corner members, said upper frame corner members having upper ends supporting said form center section, four hydraulic rams having lower ends engaging said base frame and upper ends engaging said center section for selectively raising and lowering the same thereby to vary said height, and means for securing said upper frame corner members to respective lower frame corner members thereby to secure said upper frame to said lower frame at said predetermined height; a pair of side form sections respectively pivotally connected to said center section and movable from a first position extending downwardly from said center section to a second position extending outwardly from said center section and forming a complete extended area form therewith, said form side sections in said first positions thereof extending downwardly respectively beside and adjacent said lower frame sides; and means on said supporting means for respectively retaining said side sections in said second positions thereof and including a pair of hydraulic rams at each end of said lower frame, each said pair having lower ends 6 engaging said lower frame, and upper ends respectively acting upon said form side sections for selectively raising the same from said first to said second positions, and a pair of truss structures respectively removably secured to said upper frame ends and to said form side sections in said second positions thereof.

3. The form of claim 2 further comprising vertical post members respectively vertically supporting said form side sections in said second positions thereof.

4. The form of claim 2 further comprising extension members respectively remova-bly secured to said outer edges of said form side sections.

5. The form of claim 2 wherein said upper frame further includes a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart, transvcrsely extending center frame elements respectively secured to said upper ends of said upper frame corner members at said ends thereof and supporting said form center section, a first two of said four hydraulic rams acting upon one of said center frame elements and the other two acting upon the other of said center frame elements, said center frame elements respectively having opposite ends, and a pair of elongated transversely extending side frame elements respectively supporting each of said form sections, each of said frame elements having inner and outer ends, the inner ends of said side frame elements being respectively pivotally connected to said outer ends of said center frame elements, said pairs of rams respectively acting upon said side frame elements, said truss structures being respectively removably secured to said side frame elements.

6. The form of claim 2 wherein said base frame has forward and rear ends, said lower frame being between said base frame ends, said wheels being adjacent said rear base frame end, said forward base frame end having fifth Wheel means thereon, said outer edges of said form side section in said first positions thereof being respectively disposed forwardly of said wheels and extending below the upper extremity thereof.

7. A form for casting a monolithic concrete roof structure comprising: a center form section; a lower frame; an upper vertically movable frame on said lower frame and supporting said center form section whereby said center section may be raised and lowered thereby to vary the height thereof; means on said lower frame and acting upon said upper frame for selectively vertically moving the same; a pair of side form sections respectively pivotally connected to said center section and movable from a first position extending downwardly from said center section to a second position extending outwardly from said center section and forming a complete extended area form therewith; means on said lower frame and respectively acting upon said side sections for selectively raising the same from said first to said second positions thereof; means for securing said upper frame to said lower frame at a predetermined height; and a frame structure removably secured to said upper frame and side sections for securing said side sections in said second positions thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,486,801 11/1949 Sarosdy 2513l.6 3,022,562 2/1962 Card 25131.6 3,206,824 9/1965 Cerutti 25-l3 1.6 3,234,620 2/1966 Short 25-l3l.6

J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner. R. D. BALDWIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FORM FOR CASTING A MONOLITHIC CONCRETE ROOF STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A CENTER FORM SECTION; MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SUCH CENTER SECTION AT A PREDETERMINED HEIGHT ABOVE THE GROUND AND INCLUDING A LOWER FRAME, GROUND WHEELS ON SAID LOWER FRAME FOR TRANSPORTING SAID FORM, AN UPPER VERTICALLY MOVABLE FRAME ON SAID LOWER FRAME AND SUPPORTING SAID CENTER FORM SECTION WHEREBY SAID CENTER SECTION MAY BE RAISED AND LOWERED THEREBY TO VARY SAID HEIGHT, MEANS ON SAID LOWER FRAME AND ACTING UPON SAID UPPER FRAME FOR SELECTIVELY VERTICALLY MOVING THE SAME, AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAID UPPER FRAME TO SAID LOWER FRAME AT SAID PREDETERMINED HEIGHT; A PAIR OF SIDE FORM SECTIONS RESPECTIVELY PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID CENTER SECTION AND MOVABLE FROM A FIRST POSITION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID CENTER SECTION TO A SECOND POSITION EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID CENTER SECTION AND FORMING A COMPLETE EXTENDED AREA FORM THEREWITH; AND MEANS ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR RESPECTIVELY RETAINING SAID SIDE SECTIONS IN SAID SECOND POSITIONS THEREOF AND INCLUDING A TRUSS STRUCTURE REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID UPPER FRAME AND SIDE SECTIONS. 